VietNamNet Bridge – Officials of Vietnam’s Football Federation (VFF) will go to Japan this month to meet with candidates for the position of chief coach of the national football team.

VFF officials at the meeting on March 31.

In the VFF Executive Board meeting in HCM City on March 31, officials stressed the importance of finding a new coach for the national team. According to chairman Le Hung Dung, "In early April, the VFF will send a delegation to Japan to work with our Japanese partners, including ones who are candidates for the post of chief coach".

After that trip, if everything goes smoothly, the national football team will have a new coach, says Dung.

With September’s 2014 Incheon Asian Games fast approaching, to be followed by November’s AFF Cup, selection of a new coach for the national and Olympic teams is considered crucial for Vietnam football.

Currently, other teams in the region are urgently preparing for the Asian Games. The Olympic teams of Indonesia and Singapore will have a friendly game this month, in preparation for the Asian Games.

The Myanmar team has just named a new coach – Mr. Avramovic, former coach of the Singaporean team. Avramovic is also assigned to lead Myanmar’s Olympic team at the upcoming Asian Games in South Korea.

Aside from the Asian Games, entering the AFF Cup finals is another target of the VFF this year. At present, Vietnam is the sole candidate for the AFF Cup championship that does not have a coach.

The Thai team will be led by former football star Kiatisuk. The national team of Philippines will be coached by Thomas Dooley (former captain of the US team at the 1998 World Cup, and former assistant to Jürgen Klinsmann). Indonesia chose Alfred Riedl, while Malaysia and Singapore have long had their coaches.

The VFF’s plan to pick a Japanese coach is widely supported because Japanese experts are highly appreciated for their seriousness and professionalism.

Nam Nguyen